Plan your route

For a successful and safe journey, plan your route ahead of time.

Cycle routes and maps

We provide a wealth of information on interesting cycle routes throughout Essex which will allow you to make the most of your journey. Here you will find details of routes and maps to guide you, some of which can be downloaded from this page.

Colchester area cycle maps

National Cycle Network

The National Cycle Network is a network of cycle routes in the United Kingdom and is managed by the charity Sustrans. Currently spanning 13,400 miles it was officially created in 1995 and now passes within one mile of half the population, over 338 million trips were made using it in 2006. National Routes 1, 11, 13, 16 & 51 all pass through Essex.

Sustrans produce a map of the 369 mile route along NCN 1 on England's east coast. For cost and availability, please visit their website.

The Flitch Way map covers a recently resurfaced off-road route along a former railway line between Braintree and Stansted.

Other useful links

Visit Essex is the official tourism site covering the county. It provides valuable information on walking and cycling through Essex, with details of five cycling routes passing through towns and villages taking in historic sites and places of interest.

Essex Country Parks have planned cycle routes and some even offer you the chance to hire bikes, tandems, trailers, child seats and tagalongs.

Discovery Maps

Flint and Forge Discovery Map - A 14 or 30 mile route, starting in Stansted Mountfitchet and heading west towards the former home of sculptor Henry Moore.